Evidence supporting the use of: Milk thistle
For the health condition: Addictions (general remedies for)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) has a long history of traditional use, primarily for liver health and detoxification. Its role in supporting or treating addictions is mostly rooted in folk and traditional medicine, where it has been used as a general tonic to support the liver, an organ often affected by substance abuse (e.g., alcohol, drugs). The active compound, silymarin, is believed to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help protect liver cells from toxins and promote regeneration.

While there is some preliminary scientific evidence that milk thistle may support liver function in individuals with alcoholic liver disease or other forms of hepatic stress, direct evidence for its effectiveness in treating addiction itself—whether to alcohol, drugs, or other substances—is limited. Most studies focus on liver biomarkers rather than addiction behaviors or withdrawal symptoms. In traditional herbal medicine, improved liver health is thought to aid the body’s natural detoxification processes, which may indirectly support recovery from substance use, but this is not the same as treating addiction or its psychological components.

In summary, the use of milk thistle for addiction is primarily justified by traditional beliefs in its detoxification and liver-supporting capabilities rather than robust scientific validation for addiction treatment specifically. Evidence for its role in addiction is limited and indirect.

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